# NTSB DEN89LA006: Pilgrim Steen Skybolt, N21SP, Rawlins, WY, October 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1988, 16:22 local (22:22 UTC)
- Place: Rawlins, WY
- Coordinates: 41.779548, -107.219573 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7795&lon=-107.2196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17624/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA006

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PVT PLT IN COMMAND AND HIS ATP-RATED PAX WERE FERRYING THE NEWLY-PURCHASED ACFT FROM FL TO WA. THEY DEPARTED SCOTTSBLUFF, NE, AND WERE ENROUTE TO ROCK SPRINGS, WY, WHEN THE PAX ADVISED THE PLT INSUFFICIENT VFR FUEL RESERVES PRECLUDED CONTINUING TO RKS. THE PLT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO RAWLINS. THE PLT SAID WHEN ON FINAL APCH, ACFT WAS SLIGHTLY HIGH ON VASI AND HE CORRECTED. AS THE PLT FLARED FOR LANDING, HE NOTED A HIGH SINK RATE AND ADDED POWER. THE PLT SAID THERE WAS DIP IN THE RWY AND THE ACFT STRUCK THE RISING PORTION OF THE DIP. THE ACFT BOUNCED. THE PLT SAID HE WAS TO THE RIGHT OF CENTERLINE AND HE CORRECTED. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AGAIN, STALLED, TOUCHED DOWN, SKIDDED SIDEWAYS AND GROUND LOOPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21SP-1999-03-10), registration cancelled 1999-03-10, S/N P3 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PILGRIM STEEN SKYBOLT (STEEN SKYB)
- Registry model: [Pilgrim STEEN SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/pilgrim-steen-skybolt) (registry code 0565508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: P3
- Airframe hours: 641
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4J5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Dowdney, Stephen P.
- Registered owner: Stephen P. Dowdney
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1980, 15 hours before
- Departed: BFF, SCOTTSBLUFF, NE
- Destination: RKS, ROCK SPRINGS, WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: RWL, Rawlins Municipal, runway 22, 7,008 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 135 total, 17 in this make and model, 73 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RWL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881004044249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881004044249A), Oct 4, 1988: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Rawlings, WY, Substantial damage. Bounced landing, tried to go around. Stalled, hit runway and ground looped.

## Other investigations on N21SP (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA147), Jul 24, 1998: Pilgrim Steen Skybolt (N21SP), Curtis, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of control for undetermined reasons.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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